In 1981, the Samaritan Soup Kitchen opened as an interdenominational, volunteer based ministry dedicated to ending hunger. During the past 29 years, the demand has increased from serving 26 meals on opening day to our current daily average of 304 meals. Our volunteers and staff have close to3 million meals to hungry and homeless people in our community.

• The Samaritan Soup Kitchen operates as Winston-Salem’s only soup kitchen
  
• Men, women and children are served a warm meal, 365 days a year with no questions asked
  
• In a dining area with 6 tables and 47 chairs, over 157,477 meals were served in 2009
  
• Actual food and preparation costs are $1.66 per meal
  
• The Samaritan Soup Kitchen also provides dinner and breakfast to our nightly shelter guests
  
• Teams of 15 Soup Kitchen volunteers are needed daily to prepare and serve lunch

Soup Kitchen Volunteer Profile

19 years ago, Betty Russell joined the 1st and 3rd Thursday Soup Kitchen Team and before long added the 2nd and 4th Thursday too. It didn’t take long for Betty to become the “cook” of the Thursday teams and eventually the team leader. Betty and her teams see to it that lunch is served to every guest that walks through the soup kitchen door, often well over 300 and always with a smile. Along with her soup kitchen family, Betty is married with 2 children and works as a part-time guide at historic Bethabara Park. We are grateful to Betty and all of our volunteers who have allowed Samaritan Ministries to become part of their families.